Oregon’s Full Sail Brewing can be counted on to keep craft beer lovers humming, thanks to its solid lineup of new offerings and old favorites. The latter are often released under the Brewmaster Reserve series and one of the newest to adorn one of these B.R. bomber bottles is Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale, a beer dedicated to the winter solstice, which takes place each year on December 21. Full Sail Executive Brewmaster Jamie Emmerson says this new beer is complex and great for a cold day when the daylight is scarce.
“Shortest Day CDA offers bold flavor with excellent balance,” says Emmerson. “De-husked chocolate malt imparts dark chocolate flavor while crystal adds depth and complexity. Generous additions of Mosaic, Simcoe and Citra hops lend flavors of fruit and sweet floral notes.”
Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale sports an attractive label design, courtesy of Portland-based TWEEQiM creativeLab’s MiQ Willmott. These new labels are part of all of Full Sail’s recently rebranded packaging and they emphasize the natural beauty and fresh ingredients that are part of Full Sail and its products. Shortest Day’s label features the Green Man—known in lore as the mascot of the winter solstice—fashioned using hops and objects of the nighttime sky. Willmott says the art design he created for this beer is directly reflective of the season.
“The Green Man’s crescent-moon smile reflects on the river,” says Willmott. “And the white stars represent the ‘winter circle,’ the phenomenon of stars that appear only on the winter solstice. Even the Big Dipper gets a cameo.”
Full Sail Brewmaster Jim Kelter says the meticulous nature of the label art is befitting of a complex and tasty beer.
“The symbolism of the label design draws attention to the well-balanced, ridiculously delicious ale inside,” says Kelter. “Enjoy this Brewmaster Reserve selection on the shortest day of the year and any other day this season, while it lasts.”
Full Sail Shortest Day Cascadian Dark Ale is available from now through February and is sold in 22 oz. bomber bottles and on draft. The beer contains 6.6 percent alcohol by volume and weighs in at 57 IBU. It’s a winter beer worth sipping and savoring so seek it out where other Full Sail beer is sold.
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